Interim Right Whale Protection — Gulf St. Lawrence

Summary#

The Interim Order for the Protection of North Atlantic Right Whales (Eubalaena glacialis) in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, 2025 is a temporary measure made under the Canada Shipping Act, 2001 by the Minister of Transport (Chrystia Freeland) on April 16, 2025. It sets temporary speed limits and can close or restrict defined areas of the Gulf of St. Lawrence to help protect endangered North Atlantic right whales; the order ends automatically after 30 days.

What it does#

• Applies to vessels longer than 13 m (with some emergency and government-vessel exceptions).
• Sets a general speed limit of 10 knots over ground in designated areas:
  • Static zones: a permanent set of areas where the 10-knot limit applies (with an exemption for commercial fishing vessels in waters 36.57 m deep or shallower unless a whale is detected).
  • Dynamic shipping zones and their buffer areas (buffer = 5 nautical miles south and 2.5 nautical miles east/west) become subject to 10-knot limits when at least one right whale is detected there and a navigational warning (NAVWARN) is issued.
  • Seasonal management areas: 10-knot limit during the season.
• When a whale is detected, the speed limit generally stays in force for 15 days after the detection (with specific rules about repeat detections during short windows such as 7 days and 8 days described in the order).
• If the Government cannot perform whale detection for at least 7 days, the Minister can require the Canadian Coast Guard to issue a NAVWARN imposing the 10-knot limit until detection resumes.
• A defined restricted area can be closed to navigation entirely by NAVWARN if whale numbers are unusually high or if there are reports of whale deaths or injuries. Many types of vessels are exempt from the closure (including most fishing vessels and government or research vessels), but those exempt vessels (except government/peace officers) must follow an 8-knot limit while the closure is in effect.
• The Minister can suspend limits or closures for safety reasons because of weather; such a suspension does not extend the underlying duration of the measures.
• The order names specific geographic zones and coordinates in the Gulf of St. Lawrence where these rules apply.

Who's affected#

• Operators of vessels longer than 13 m — this includes many commercial ships, ferries, and some recreational vessels.
• The fishing sector and fish harvesters: commercial fishing vessels are generally exempt in shallower waters but can become subject to limits if whales are detected and notices are issued by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.
• Shipping companies and pilots who move through the Gulf of St. Lawrence and who may need to slow down, reroute, or avoid the restricted area when NAVWARNs are issued by the Canadian Coast Guard.
• Researchers, marine-response teams, and government vessels (often exempt but still subject to some speed limits).
• Coastal communities and anyone relying on marine transport in the affected zones may see schedule or routing changes.

Why it matters#

• North Atlantic right whales are endangered; vessel strikes are a major threat. Slower speeds reduce the risk and severity of collisions and give whales more chance to avoid ships.
• The order is temporary and responsive: speed limits and closures are triggered by detections, reports of injuries or deaths, or gaps in detection capacity. That makes the rules short-term but potentially disruptive while in effect.
• For mariners and shippers, the measures can mean slower transit times, altered routes, and extra operational planning. For fish harvesters, exemptions exist but can be overridden if whales are detected nearby.
• The measure balances marine safety (allowing weather-based suspensions) with urgent wildlife protection.